Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Report
Bristol Motor Speedway 250
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Event: Race 19 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile)
Length of Race: 250 laps over one hour, 33 minutes, 44 seconds

FRM Finish:

Chandler Smith (Started 2nd, Finished 24th / Running, completed 247 of 250 laps)
Layne Riggs (Started 1st, Finished 32nd / Running, completed 234 of 250 laps)

FRM Points Standings:

Layne Riggs (1st)
Chandler Smith (3rd)

Chandler Smith Key Takeaways

Stage One: 3rd / Stage Two: 3rd / Race Result: 24th

“It was an interesting day to say the least,” said Smith. “Our No. 38 QuickTie Products Ford F-150 was solid the first two stages. We were right where we needed to run, top three, a third-place truck. We came in and the crew did a great job on the pit stop and the driver sped, so I ended up losing all of the track position. I was coming back through the field and the crew chief did a great job on making a call on the adjustment and got the truck way better. We ended up having a problem with the right-front tire. The stud completely broke off and the rim was completely broken and we had to pit. Nevertheless, we had a really good truck before we started having mechanical issues, so I’m proud of that. We had good speed today, so, regardless, we still have forward momentum going to Kansas.”

Layne Riggs Key Takeaways

Stage One: 1st / Stage Two: 1st / Race Result: 32nd

“We lost that one on pit road tonight,” said Riggs. “I don’t know what happened there. We had a really slow stop first of all, and then we didn’t even get the wheel tight either. Once you’re mired in the back and your two laps down, you’re just riding around with the guys in the back. I guess the 1 just lost talent and wrecked. I don’t really know what happened there. It’s probably one of the top three hardest hits of my life. I can’t believe the truck was still rolling after that. I feel like we had the truck to beat. This one stings really bad.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit FrontRowMotorsports.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

UNOH 250 – Race Results

Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway

FINISH: 13th

Start: 13th

Stage One: 13th

Stage Two: 15th

NCTS Playoff Point Standings Position: 10th

Ankrum Settles for Top 15 Results to Open The Chase at Bristol

Tyler Ankrum, Driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST

Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST powered through a hard-fought battle at the “Thunder Valley” Thursday night under the lights after a 15th-place finish saw him open up The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Chase. After qualifying was cancelled due to weather, the lineup was set by the NCTS metrics and Ankrum was relegated to start in the 13th position. Due to the unfortunate conditions of the race track, the young driver found it very difficult to pass and held the 13th position for his Stage One finish. After reporting to the team he was building free and needed more turn, crew chief Mark Hillman called the driver of the No. 18 Chevrolet down pit road under the stage break for four tires, fuel and a slight trackbar adjustment.

Rolling out 15th, Ankrum found himself in the same position with passing being a major issue and late completed Stage Two also in the 15th position. The San Bernadino, Calif. native was super tight on the second stage run but felt they needed to prioritize track position and try and gain as much as they could due to the passing conditions throughout the night. Under the stage break, Ankrum cruised down pit road for ride-side tires only along with a top off of Sunoco race fuel. After gaining multiple spots on pit road, the young driver was able to restart 10th and start his quest through the top 10.

Juggling spots, Ankrum was fighting to hold inside the top 10 until a caution with 82 laps to go arose in the field. The No. 18 chose to stay out and manage the track the best they could as he currently ran in the eighth position. A battle to the end found the young driver dealing with more tight conditions and ultimately led to a 13th-place finish at Bristol. Nothing to lose and nothing to gain at the “Last Great Colosseum” for the 25-year-old NCTS veteran as he still holds the 10th position in the Chase.

Tyler Ankrum Quote:

“I really wish we had a little more to gain here at Bristol tonight. We had a really fast LIUNA Chevrolet but if you don’t qualify up front here it is very difficult to make your way there and the weather just was not on our side tonight. Proud of these guys and our Trackhouse pit crew for some solid stops tonight. Huge thanks to Tony Dagley, UCOR and all the folks from LIUNA that came out tonight. Still lots of work to do and we are onto Kansas.”

UNOH 250 | Bristol Motor Speedway

Race Results

Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway

FINISH: 27th

Start: 32nd

NCTS Point Standings Position: 24th

Wright Grabs Positions Late to Salvage Long Night at Bristol

Kris Wright, Driver, No. 81 iHeartRadio / F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST

Kris Wright and the No. 81 iHeartRadio / F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST team finished 27th in Thursday night’s UNOH 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). Wright started 32nd after qualifying was set by the metric following a lightning delay. He moved forward early, passing a truck on the outside on lap five and reaching 30th by lap 12 before falling two laps down by lap 50.

The team made a stop for four tires, fuel and chassis adjustment during the Stage One break, including a track bar adjustment and changes to the rear of the truck. Wright restarted 34th for Stage Two and found additional speed midway through the run, posting five top-10 lap times during the middle portion of the run while holding off the race leader. The truck began to tighten toward the end of the segment, and was scored 30th at the end of Stage Two.

Wright restarted 30th for the final stage and settled into 31st before a caution on lap 168. Wright got loose due to oil on the track and tagged the outside wall, which necessitated the team inspecting the right front suspension. He restarted 31st on lap 181 and continued to battle through the remaining laps, moving to 29th by lap 230 and gained two more positions to finish 27th.

Kris Wright Quote:

“Tonight could’ve been a much worse result. I really wanted to bring this iHeartRadio / F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST home clean, but there wasn’t much I could do. It’s unfortunate for the guys back at the shop, but I’m looking to finally get back on a 1.5-mile track, one of my personal favorite tracks to run, and hopefully bring home a good result for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.”

UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics – Race Results

Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway

FINISH: 30th

Start: 21st

Laps Led: 0

NCTS Point Standings Position: 8th

Adversity Greets Eckes in Bristol Chase Race

Daniel Hemric, driver of the No. 19 Motion Industires Chevrolet Silverado RST

The first round of the Chase for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series (NCTS) title dealt Christian Eckes a dose of adversity on Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). The driver of the No. 91 Motion Industries Chevrolet RST was credited with a 30th-place finish after suffering contact with the backstretch wall midway through the first stage. After the first of seven Chase races, Eckes is now positioned eighth in the title standings, 58 markers out of the lead.

Eckes and the Motion Industries team began the day exhibiting tremendous speed in practice, posting the fourth-fastest lap in race trim and led the field in 15-lap average. After weather scrapped qualifying, Eckes started from 21st position as the lineup was set per the metric.

Once the green flag dropped, Eckes made a beeline towards the front by advancing from 21st to 12th in 19 laps. After the groove began migrating off the bottom and towards the rim of the high banks, Eckes attempted to continue his ascent by using the inside. On lap 40, Eckes tried to complete a pass on the No. 9 truck exiting Turn 2 but made contact down the backstretch and turned the right front fender into the wall. The contact necessitated a trip to pit road to clearance the fender under green and resulted in trapping him six laps down.

Despite the misfortune, Eckes and company were running at the finish and their persistence was rewarded with gaining four spots in the final 50 laps to take the checkered flag in 30th.

Christian Eckes Quote:

“We made a mistake off Turn 2, tried to get up in front of the No. 9 and just wasn’t clear. A lot of Chase trucks looked like they had trouble tonight, so we didn’t lose as much as I expected to. I thought we had a Motion Chevrolet capable of contending tonight. Made a run up to about 12th, so we’ll go to Kansas and try to make up for it there.”

UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics – Race Results

Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway

FINISH: 12th

Start: 7th

Stage 1: 7th

Laps Led: 0

Points Position: 7th

Hemric Gains Ground in Chase Opener at Bristol

Daniel Hemric, driver of the No. 19 Delphi Chevrolet Silverado RST

Daniel Hemric gained ground in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series (NCTS) standings as the Chase opened on Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). The driver of the No. 19 Delphi Chevrolet Silverado RST battled throughout the 250-lap outing to record points in both stages and en route to a 12th-place finish. Hemric was tied for scoring the fourth-most points among Chase contenders and sits seventh in the point standings, 56 markers behind the lead.

After weather forced the cancellation of qualifying, Hemric took the green flag from seventh position. The Delphi Chevrolet immediately established himself as a contender with strong pace during the opening 65-lap run. Hemric ran as high as sixth for most of the stint but began to deal with a wavering balance. A tight condition developed as the run progressed, yet Hemric still banked four points in seventh position at the end of Stage 1 on lap 65.

Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt called Hemric to pit road for four tires, fuel, and air pressure adjustments to improve the rotation in the Delphi Silverado RST. Hemric restarted eighth on lap 77 and fought with a progressively tighter condition as more rubber stacked on BMS’ concrete, running 13th at the end of the second stage on lap 130.

Bellicourt employed a two-tire strategy during the second stage caution in hopes to gain track position, and armed Hemric with a sizable track bar adjustment. He restarted eighth on lap 142 yet continued to deal with a tight balance, hampering his center corner speed. While running as high as seventh, Hemric’s handling condition deteriorated and was scored 15th when the final yellow flew at lap 213. The Delphi crew bolted on a cooler set of scuff tires and returned Hemric to the track in 17th position. The call paid dividends as it produced a net gain by the time the checkers were unfurled. Hemric was able to gain five positions to drive up to 12th and scored 29 points on the evening.

Daniel Hemric Quote:

“The first run fired off really well. Maybe about 30 laps in, I had a weird front tire slip that I hadn’t experienced. We managed that in Stage 1 and progressively got worse in Stage 2 and Stage 3. Kevin Bellicourt and everyone on the No. 19 Delphi Chevrolet did what they could to adjust and adapt and try to make it better. Took a swing at track position putting two tires on. When we put two tires on, we really struggled, backed up hard…We managed the night as best we could, and knew we just needed to get to the end of the race seeing what was going on with the guys were racing against. We lived to fight another day at Kansas next week and we’ll try to make up some more ground.”

NCTS RACE RECAP: BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY II
Event: UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics (250 laps / 133.25 miles)
Round: 19 of 25 (Chase Opener)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Location: Bristol, TN
Date & Time: Thursday, September 17 | 8:00 PM ET

No. 45 Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Landen Lewis | Crew Chief: Phil Gould

Start: 28th | Stage 1: 18th | Stage 2: 17th
Finish: 14th | Driver Points: 22nd | Owner Points: 9th

• Key Takeaway: Landen Lewis and the Utilitra team executed a solid outing at Bristol Motor Speedway. The No. 45 Chevrolet rolled off the starting grid from 28th-place after qualifying was cancelled, but Lewis made quick work in the opening stage to climb to 18th. Lewis held his track position and gained a spot in stage two, but most importantly was able to remain on the lead lap to fight it out. In the final stage, Lewis moved forward and was able to bring his truck home without a scratch on it in 14th-place.
• Landen Lewis’ Post-Race Thoughts: “Tonight went a lot better for us compared to our last couple races. We made all of the laps and I was able to learn a lot out there. 14th is obviously not where we want to be with our Utilitra Chevy, but we will continue to grind at it and continue to get better. I feel like tonight was a good way to start off our Chase run because we were at least able to finish the race. The last two races had just not went our way, so as funny as that sounds, I think it’s a good thing that we were able to finish the race, get our marbles back together, and get back on the right path. We’ll continue to work on it as I go to my first mile-and-a-half next week in Kansas.”

About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.

No. 44 BLAC / GoKartMania Academy Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andrés Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers

Start: 27th | Stage 1: 21st | Stage 2: 21st
Finish: 17th | Driver Points: 15th | Owner Points: 21st

• Key Takeaway: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the BLAC / GoKartMania Academy team rebounded from early challenges to end with a decent result in Bristol. Starting in 27th-place, Pérez de Lara passed a handful of trucks to move into 21st for both stage one and stage two. With a blistering pace set by the leaders, the No. 44 lost two laps in the opening stages, but was able to get back on the lead lap through strategy calls. Pérez de Lara worked hard to pick up track position late, resulting in a 17th-place finish.
• Andrés Pérez de Lara’s Post-Race Thoughts: “We had a lot of ups and downs throughout the night with our BLAC / GoKartMania Academy Chevy. I feel like we lacked some pace which made the day difficult overall, but we gave it everything we could. I feel like we executed what we could in terms of positioning, and fortunately, we were able to get our lap back. I feel like our result tonight is a reflection of how much work everyone on our team put in tonight. We know where we were lacking speed, and we know we have to get to work on it. Bristol was a strong track for us last year, so we just need to get back to that for next time we come back here.”

About BLAC: BLAC is a technology and logistics company specializing in real-time tracking, asset visibility, and intelligent monitoring solutions for transportation, providing also location and condition data in real time for all shipments in the entire supply chain operations. With operations and coverage at an international level, BLAC provides advanced tracking technology designed to help companies reduce risk, improve operational control, and protect high-value cargo through real-time visibility and smart alert systems.

Through its innovative platform and 24/7 monitoring capabilities, BLAC supports businesses across multiple industries with scalable solutions focused on logistics security, transportation efficiency, and asset recovery. With years of experience in GPS tracking, supply chain visibility, and transportation security, BLAC continues to position itself as a trusted technology partner for companies seeking smarter and safer logistics operations.

About GoKartMania: GoKartMania is Mexico’s leading indoor go-kart track, a 100% Mexican company with a global presence. Their karts are of European origin and feature the most precise timing system. At GoKartMania, you’ll find activities for the whole family and a wide variety of race formats and activities.

GoKartMania is the ideal place for both beginners and seasoned motorsport enthusiasts. From a fun-filled, adrenaline-fueled afternoon with the family to competing in high-level series and championships, including position races, knockout format, endurance races, and karting clinics. They also offer

No. 4 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Connor Hall | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett

Start: 26th | Stage 1: | Stage 2:
Finish: | Driver Points: 42nd | Owner Points: 31st

• Key Takeaway: Connor Hall and the AutoVentive / Precision team had an eventful run in Bristol. Initially slated to start in 26th-place, Hall had to drop to the tail after the team replaced brake components before the start of the race. Not to be deterred, Hall gained ground in the first two stages and was rising through the field. Unfortunately, Hall ran over debris which cut the right-rear tire down and forced him to make two green flag pit stops in the final stage. He crossed the finish line in 29th-place.
• Connor Hall’s Post-Race Thoughts: “Man, we had a lot going on tonight. I was telling the guys on the radio, with as good as we were in practice and qualifying earlier today, I never imagined that our race would play out like this. I learned a lot out there, and continue to get better every time I get to race one of these trucks. Going from Richmond to Loudon was an improvement, and Loudon to Bristol was another improvement. With that being said, hopefully Kansas will be better for us speed-wise and hopefully the race will fall our way. Big thank you to Cody Efaw, Precision Vehicle Logistics, Greg Fowler, Josh Morris, and everyone on this No. 4 team for their hard work.”

About AutoVentive: AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm.

About Precision Vehicle Logistics: Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.

No. 42 Vetted Ventures Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Parker Eatmon | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski

Start: 11th | Stage 1: 22nd | Stage 2: 32nd
Finish: 31st | Driver Points: 31st | Owner Points: 24th

• Key Takeaway: Parker Eatmon and the Vetted Ventures team fought electrical issues throughout the race in Bristol. Eatmon started 11th in the 250-lap event, but slipped back in the first two stages. Noting that his truck was reporting signs of low voltage, Eatmon came to pit road at the end of stage two so the crew could diagnose the issue. The team was able to replace the battery, but lost multiple laps in the process. Eatmon nursed the truck home to a 31st-place finish.
• Parker Eatmon’s Post-Race Thoughts: “It was a frustrating night for our Vetted Ventures Chevy. We lacked overall speed on entry and through the center of the corners. It’s unfortunate that we had the voltage issues, but I know it’s not from a lack of hard work on my team’s part. We will regroup moving onto Kansas next week, and hopefully have a better day there.”

About Vetted Ventures: Vetted Ventures is a pioneer in revolutionizing private sales and acquisitions management through an ecosystem of exclusive clients with the ability to be represented by one company across different industries. We aim to provide our clients with the opportunities they seek backed by the service they deserve. To learn more about the company, please visit www.Vetted-Ventures.com.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
UNOH 250 — Bristol Motor Speedway
Thursday, September 17, 2026

JAKE GARCIA CAPTURES FIRST NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES VICTORY

• Jake Garcia won the first race of his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career tonight.
• Ford has nine wins this season and has won seven of the last 10 events overall.
• This marks the first win for ThorSport Racing since Ty Majeski won the championship race at Phoenix Raceway to end the 2024 season.
• Ford’s other NCTS wins this year have been by Layne Riggs (6) and Chandler Smith (2).
• Overall, Ford has won 138 series races.

JAKE GARCIA, No. 98 Quanta Services/Curb Records Ford F-150 – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW – YOU’VE BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG. HOW DOES IT FEEL? “I’ve been pushing for it for 94 starts, but I’m really proud of all my guys. They brought an amazing truck tonight. It was good today, but qualifying got rained out. We had a good strategy that helped us come from the back, got some track position and started stage three with the lead and kind of took off from there. We had some adversity on that last restart, but, fortunately, the truck was fast enough to overcome that and just really proud of this moment.”

YOU BREAK THE WINLESS STREAK FOR THORSPORT AS WELL. WHAT DOES THIS WIN PROVE TO YOU? “ThorSport Racing is a really strong team, especially historically, so I’m just proud of all my guys on the 98 team for being able to end that winless streak. It’s been so long since we’ve gotten a win, so it feels really good to be the one to get it done.”

Ford Finishing Results:

1st – Jake Garcia
9th – Ty Majeski
11th – Ben Rhodes
19th – Luke Baldwin
24th – Chandler Smith
28th – Cole Butcher
32nd – Layne Riggs
33rd – Frankie Muniz
36th – Jackson Macenko

LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops/Peak Ford F-150 – “We lost that one on pit road tonight. I don’t know what happened there. We had a really slow stop first of all, and then we didn’t even get the wheel tight either. Once you’re mired in the back and your two laps down, you’re just riding around with the guys in the back. I guess the 1 just lost talent and wrecked. I don’t really know what happened there. It’s probably one of the top three hardest hits of my life. I can’t believe the truck was still rolling after that. I feel like we had the truck to beat. This one stings really bad.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE WHEN YOU TRAPPED TWO LAPS DOWN AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN REALLY DO? “At that point you’re just riding around and staying in front of the people that were two down. At that point, there’s really nothing you can do. You just have to beat the guys that are on your lap, so you’re not doing much racing back there.”

ANY CONSOLATION THE OTHER GUYS AROUND YOU HAD ISSUES TOO? “It could have been a lot worse of a day. We’ve got to clean that up if we’re gonna win a championship.”

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 38 QuickTie Ford F-150 – “It was an interesting day to say the least. Our No. 38 QuickTie Products Ford F-150 was solid the first two stages. We were right where we needed to run, top three, a third place truck. We came in and the crew did a great job on the pit stop and the driver sped, so I ended up losing all of the track position. I was coming back through the field and the crew chief did a great job on making a call on the adjustment and got the truck way better. I felt like I was capable of getting to the right place with some cautions and all that and doing a good job on restarts we could go up there and contend for the win. That didn’t turn out to be the plan. We ended up having a problem with the right-front tire. The stud completely broke off and the rim is completely broke and shattered and everything and had to pit with I don’t know how many laps down we finished. Nevertheless, we had a really good truck before we started having mechanical issues, so I’m proud of that. We had good speed today, so, regardless, we still have forward momentum going to Kansas.”

JAKE GARCIA WINNER’S PRESS CONFERENCE

JAKE GARCIA: “Obviously, that last restart was really hectic. We dropped back to second and were getting passed for second, and so we just had to rebound and figure out a way around the 52. After a couple of laps behind him I kind of felt like we were faster, but this is a place where it’s really hard to pass, especially if someone starts rolling the top well. So, I had to wait for him to go to the bottom and I went to the top and I was able to get the momentum to get beside him, and then after that I kind of inched my way by him. We ran side-by-side for couple of laps, but it was definitely a stressful situation. We were three-wide coming out of two on that restart, but, fortunately, my truck was fast enough. I was able to come back and get around the 52 and get the win.”

WHAT IS THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE LIKE? “I have done a press conference before after a pole, but I wasn’t sure what you guys wanted me to do. It’s just surreal doing the burnout, doing the interview on the frontstretch, going to Victory Lane. All of that stuff is really cool and it’s really cool to check all of that off the bucket list. It feels even better to be able to say you did it after all this time. Not having a win wears on you a little bit. We’ve been really close a handful of times, but just haven’t had things go our way and tonight everything went well for us.”

DO YOU START TO WONDER IF IT’S EVER GOING TO HAPPEN? “Maybe a little bit. Obviously, it’s a really good opportunity to be able to drive for ThorSport in the NASCAR Truck Series. Last year, all of my teammates were champions, so, obviously, you can get it done at ThorSport Racing, so there was a little bit of pressure to perform to that level. We as a team have kind of been in a slump the last couple of years, but being able to break that and show that we can bring really fast trucks to the racetrack, I think that’s a morale boost and confidence boost for the whole shop. It feels really good to kind of get the monkey off of our back a little bit and hopefully it’s the first of many.”

THE LAST RESTART YOU HAD TO FIGHT OFF THE 52. IT SEEMED LIKE YOUR TRUCK WAS ABLE TO WORK ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE? “I was really frustrated when we lost the lead on that last restart. I didn’t really even foresee us getting put three-wide until I was almost off the corner and it was kind of a big moment. I kind of got sandwiched and then immediately I’m thinking, ‘Oh, we’re gonna have a tire go down or something.’ But being able to come back from that, fortunately all of our tires stayed up. I did have a truck that was able to maneuver well. That’s something that we struggled with in the spring and kind of focused on bringing back a really similar setup, but just trying to make sure we could work well on the top and the bottom and I think that’s what helped us at the end of the race. When he would go to the top, I could go to the bottom and try to work on him that way, and if he would go to the bottom, I could go to the top and try to get runs on him by running the top. Having a truck that can move around is really important here, especially in traffic.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WIN THE FIRST CHASE RACE AND BEAT ALL OF THE GUYS WHO ARE COMPETING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP? DO THAT ADD ANYTHING TO THIS MOMENT? “I don’t really care, honestly. It’s the Chase. We’re not in it, but we didn’t really deserve to be in it, either. I’m sure those guys bring their A-game every week, but it does feel good to get a win and know that you can beat the best. Even though we got the lead off of pit road, I still felt like coming from 12th to fourth in that first stage showed how much speed we had. Even that next run I thought we were really good and I was just trying to manage my stuff because I knew what our strategy was gonna be. I definitely thought we had the best truck, but the weather delay in qualifying set us back quite a bit.”

BAYLEY CURREY DELIVERS CAREER-BEST IN SEASON DEBUT AT BRISTOL
Kaden Honeycutt cuts points deficit to single digits heading to Kansas

BRISTOL, Tenn. (September 17, 2026) – Bayley Currey made his season debut count as he led Toyota with a career-best second-place finish in the NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday evening. Currey, who is the truck chief on the no. 1 TRICON Toyota Tundra, scored his best finish across nearly 200 starts in NASCAR’s top-three divisions.

It was a strong night for non-Chase drivers as Currey and fellow Tundra driver Stewart Friesen battled for the final two podium finishes in the closing laps with Friesen scored in third. He led the charge in a stellar night for Halmar-Friesen Racing (HFR), as William Sawalich delivered in his HFR debut, finishing seventh.

Gio Ruggiero led all Chase drivers with a sixth-place finish, while Kaden Honeycutt drove through the field after a late pit stop to finish eighth. With the result, Honeycutt has cut his points deficit to first place to just to just three points.

TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS)
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race 19 of 25 – 133.25 Miles, 250 Laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Jake Garcia*
2nd, BAYLEY CURREY
3rd, STEWART FRIESEN
4th, Justin Haley*
5th, Tristan McKee*
6th, GIO RUGGIERO
7th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
8th, KADEN HONEYCUTT
16th, TANNER GRAY
22nd, TIMMY HILL
34th, NICK LEITZ
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

BAYLEY CURREY, No. 5 Monster Truck Wars Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 2nd

What do you take away from tonight?

“I’ve still got it, I guess. Just huge, huge thank you to everyone at TRICON, Toyota – just a great opportunity and glad we were able to make the most of it. I thought I was going to fumble it there at the end, but we were able to fight there and bring it home p2. Obviously wanted to win, but coming off the couch, I’m alright with it.”

Hard fought battle. What are the emotions right now?

“They are all good ones. Huge thank you to TRICON, Toyota. The effort these guys put in is unmatched. I’ve been truck chiefing all year, but to be a part of it and get a good finish for these guys is truly special.”

STEWART FRIESEN, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Halmar-Friesen Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

How difficult was that final run?
“It wasn’t that bad. We had a really, really good Halmar Tundra TRD Pro. The guys did a good job getting me the track position, and track position was key for us. Clean air was good – had the lead there, but just too many laps left to hold on. We started losing front turn with 15, 20 to go. Just kind of hanging on those last five. Proud of the effort from these guys. Found a brake problem in practice and was able to, somewhat, get that remedied – but proud of these guys. It was close. I was hoping for another green-white-checkered or something to be able to mix it up from the top again. Another good top-five. We will keep building and keep digging.”

GIO RUGGIERO, No. 17 First Auto Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 6th

Top Chase finisher, and mostly clean truck except for the fluid being on the track. How was your race?

“There was fluid all over the track, and I just got into it. It felt like ice off of turn four there, and thought we were going to have some serious damage but no, it was a decent race from where we started. This is a super hard race, track position wise, if you start in the back – it is just so hard to pass when the bottom is super locked down. I thought our First Auto Group Tundra was really, really good in the first stage, and on that initial start I lost some ground actually and as the long run came, I kind of made it up and felt really good about our truck – just getting in the second stage I was a little bit tight, and struggled being tight throughout the rest of the race, but to have a good clean day at the end of it and have a decent points day is good for us and good momentum to start the Chase. I’m excited for Kansas and Charlotte. I feel like if we keep bringing the speed we had today and actually are able to qualify for the next two and be able to start up front we will be in a lot better position.”

KADEN HONEYCUTT, No. 11 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 8th

What was it like behind the wheel tonight?

“It definitely sucks. Our Mobil 1 Tundra was so good tonight. I didn’t lead a lot of laps, but were throwing it at the 34 (Layne Riggs). I felt like we were better than him for sure. I just needed a long run, and the 98 (Jake Garcia) had clean air and I was just biding my time, waiting for the track to widen out and attack and as soon as I went to go and attack is when I had the vibration. It was getting worse and worse. Thank goodness we had the caution and I was able to come down and fix it. Just man so unfortunate. Thanks to Mobil 1, Safelite – this whole team 11 – everyone does such a great job. My pit crew has been amazing – it’s probably the second mistake I’ve seen them make all season. They are the best, and I will stand by that all day. Win and lose as team. We will go into these next six weeks and keep bringing trucks like this each week.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.